Osburn Hall

"The University Center for the Study of Technology."

Osburn Hall was built in 1957 to house the Industrial Arts Department at Millersville State Teacher's College. The new, state-of-the-art building was designed to replace the facilities located in the old domestic science building that stood where Dilworth Hall now stands. Official approval to prepare industrial arts teachers was granted by the State of Pennsylvania in 1930. The first curricular offerings were confined to courses in wood, sheet metal, drafting, and house wiring. The first class graduated in 1934.

In 1941, Dr. Burl Neff Osburn took over department leadership. During Osburn's term as department chairman, the program swelled in the number of students, and overtook almost all space in the domestic science building. It was at this time a new facility was envisioned. This new facility would later be named Osburn Hall in honor of the enormous contributions made by Dr. Osburn during his tenure.

The new and improved Osburn Hall underwent a total lifecycle renewal and expansion that began with the Spring 2003. All offices, laboratories, classrooms, and student areas were relocated out of Osburn Hall to various locations on campus and in the Lancaster area. All major systems were replaced, and two additions made to the building. Spring 2004 opened with the excitement of a new facility that was expanded to over 70,000 square foot center for the study of technology.

Today, Osburn Hall has main entrances on all three levels. The space inside has been allocated according to the technology cluster of communications, energy/power/transportation, production (manufacturing and construction), and occupational safety and environmental health.

Space Allocation

First Floor

First Floor Highlights:

Automation and Control Lab

Electronics Lab

Energy/Power/Transportation Lab

Student Research Lab

Two media enabled classrooms

Student Lounge

Faculty Cluster Offices

The first floor was redesigned to house the Energy/Power/Transportation cluster area. A spacious new east wing was added to the existing building that includes the EPT lab and a new automation and control lab. The electronics lab moved from its original location on the third floor to the first, into the area that was occupied by the ceramics lab previously. Two classrooms were created, as well as a laboratory for students to work on research and development projects. The faculty offices for the professors who teach in the classrooms and labs on this floor is also included.

The materials laboratories are clustered together on the second floor. The new areas on the second floor are the General Technology lab, originally meant to resemble a K-12 lab so that it can be used by the technology education majors. Also included are a seminar room that houses many different technology education publications, and a modular technology lab. The main office complex opens into a lobby and receiving area that has been used on several occasions for various auspicious events. There is a large multipurpose room, designed with a removable center wall so that it can be either two twenty-four seat classrooms or one large meeting area.

The third floor houses the communications and occupational safety and environmental health cluster areas. Another CADD lab was added to further enhance capabilities and offerings in rapid prototyping. The drafting/design lab and the CADD/general PC lab fill the third floor of the added west wing. The graphics area is now all on the third floor, including the desktop publishing lab, graphics lab, and all of the supporting areas like the press room, drak rooms, and media studio. The occupational safety and environmental health has enjoyed growth as they now have a state-or-the-art fire lab, safety engineering lab, industrial hygiene lab, and ergonomics lab. There are three classrooms on the third floor in addition to the labs. The graduate assistants have a research area that also includes space for the laboratory technicians' offices.